See “The Arts Diary – December 2023 on” to see what’s scheduled for the next few months – and into 2024.
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Updated – Saturday 2 December, 6.22pm
Sunday 3 December
BATH, Theatre Royal, Guy Masterson in A Christmas Carol, and 11 and 18 December, 2pm and 7pm: The Egg, Wendy: A Peter Pan Story, for audiences aged 6+, to 13 Jan, various times.
BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Su Pollard, Noel Brodie and Jamie Steen, to 31 Dec.
02 Academy, Ocean Colour Scene.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Budapest Cafe Orchestra, Eastern European folk meets jazz, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Wessex MIlitary Band, Winter concert, 3pm.
BRISTOL, Old Vic, Arabian Nights by Sonali Bhattacharyya, directed by Blanche McIntryre, to 6 Jan, various times: Weston Studio, Little Bulb Theatre in Four Seasons, a theatrical love letter to nature for children and their families, to 7 Jan.
Beacon, Penguin Cafe, 8pm.
Redgrave Theatre, BOVTS in Into the Woods, to 7 Dec, various times.
Tobacco Factory, Oliver Twist, to 21 Jan.
Hippodrome, Peter Pan, with Faye Tozer and Andy Ford, to 31 Dec, various times.
CERNE ABBAS, Village Hall, Siger, folk duo from Flanders, 7.30. AR
CIRENCESTER, Barn Theatre, Treasure Island, to 6 Jan.
CHURCHINFORD, Village Hall, Gonzo Moose in Death Who’s Coming To Dinner, 7.30.TA
CROWCOMBE, Village Hall, And Then Come the Nightjars. MOVIOLA
EXETER, Northcott, Le Navet Bete and Northcott Theatre, Dick Whittington, to 7 Jan.
Barnfield Theatre, Exeter Little Theatre in Nativity! The Musical, to 9 Dec, 7pm, Sat/Sun mats 2pm.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, The Santa Show, 2pm.
FROME, Tree House, My Darling Clementine, country rock.
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, Drum Studio, Pins and Needles in Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, to 31 Dec, various times.
POOLE, Lighthouse, The Overtones, 7.30.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, From Darkness to Light, candlelit Advent procession and music, 5pm.
Playhouse, Dick Whittington, pantomime, to 7 Jan, various times.
STALBRIDGE, Village Hall, Owdyado Theatre in Twisted Christmas, macabre mini-plays, 7.30. AR
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, The Time of Our Lives – Hits from the Movies.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, David Graham and the Eskimo Brothers, from Nashville, with guest Ben Waters.
WINCANTON, Catholic Church, Pilgrim Singers with Marta Fontanals Simmons, Christmas concert.
Monday 4 December
BEAMINSTER, Public Rooms, Barbie. MOVIOLA
BOURNEMOUTH, 02 Academy, Electric Six.
BRISTOL, Lost Horizon, Witch, only local date for “Zambian Beatles.”
Beacon, Ocean Colour Scene.
HAWKCHURCH, Village Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, I Should Be So Lucky, new Stock-Aitken-Waterman musical, to Sat, various times.
SALISBURY, Studio Theatre, The Flint Street Nativity, to Sat.
SHERBORNE, Studio Theatre, APS in Twelfth Night, to Sat, 7.30, Sat mat 2.30.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Six Songs that Rocked the World, with Dan Shaw and the Shalaings, 7pm: The Pigeon Tunnel, film, 7.30.
SWANAGE, Mowlem, Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to Fri and 11 to 14 Dec, various times.
WESTON SUPER MARE, Blakehay Theatre, Living Spit’s A Christmas Carol, to 21 Dec.
Tuesday 5 December
BATH, Forum, The Holiday, film with live orchestra, 7.30.
Mission Theatre, On a Role Theatre in Avril Rowland’s The Second Best Bed, 7.30.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Billy Bragg.
02 Academy, Electric Six.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Harka, film, 7.30.
KINGSBURY EPISCOPI, Village Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
POOLE, Lighthouse, Stuff and Nonsense Theatre in The Three Little Pigs, to 24 Dec, various times.
TAUNTON, Brewhouse, A Christmas Carol, new musical, to 30 Dec, various times.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, The Lions Variety Show, local performers, 7.30.
WINSFORD, Village Hall, And Then Come the Nightjars. MOVIOLA
YETMINSTER, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
Wednesday 6 December
BATH, Forum, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra with Joss Stone, Pauline Black, Arthur Hendrickson, Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, 7.30.
Rondo, Nunkie Theatre in Gravest Fears: Two Ghost Stories by MR James.
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, Donny Osmond.
02 Academy, Alambama 3, Cold War Classics.
BRISTOL, St George’s, Fitzhardinge Consort, Carols by Candlelight, 7.30.
CHURCHINFORD, Village Hall, The Day of the Jackal, 60th anniversary screening. MOVIOLA
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Chapterhouse Theatre in A Christmas Carol, 7.30.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Magic Mahler, BSO, cond Kerem Hasan, Alina Ibragimova, violin, Jesper Svedberg, cello, Brahms and Mahler, 7.30.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, G4 at Christmas, 7.30.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAST, Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors, to Sat, various times.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Our River … Our Sky, film, 7.15: Home Alone, 1990 film, 7.30pm.
WARMINSTER, Athenaeum, 12 Mighty Orphans, film, 7.30.
WESTON SUPER MARE, Playhouse, That’ll Be the Day Christmas show.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Marty Wilde and the Wildcats.
YEOVIL, Swan Theatre, Motiv8 in Frozen Jnr, to Fri, 7pm, Sat 3pm and 6pm.
Thursday 7 December
BATH, Theatre Royal, Jon Monie and Nick Wilton in Sleeping Beauty, to 7 Jan, various times: The Egg, Midnight Mole ( 6 months to 4 years), to 7 Jan, various day times.
Forum, Swing Into Christmas with the Down for the Count Orchestra, 7.30.
Chapel Arts, A Winter Union with Jade Rhiannon, Katriona Gilmore, Jamie Roberts, Hannah Sanders and Ben Savidge, folk.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, The Great Escaper, film. 7.30.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra with Pauline Black, Arthur “Gaps” Hendrickson, Joss Stone, Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall, Sumudu Jayatilaka and Gilson Lavis.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Oppenheimer, film, 11am and 7.30pm.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Moonstone Theatre in The Last Noel, murder mystery dinner, and 14 Dec, 7.30.
FROME, Merlin Theatre, Merlin Theatre Productions in ELF – The Musical, to 16 Dec, various times.
HONITON, Beehive, Dr Feelgood.
ILMINSTER, Warehouse, IES in Jack and the Beanstalk, to Sat and 14 to 16 Dec, , 7.30, Sat mats 2.30.
MINEHEAD, Regal, MATA in Nativity: The Musical, to Sat,7.30, Sat mat 2.30.
MOTCOMBE, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
POOLE, Lighthouse, Chris Jarvis in Aladdin, to 31 Dec, various times.
PORTSMOUTH, Guildhall, Magic Mahler, BSO, cond Kerem Hasan, Alina Ibragimova, violin, Jesper Svedberg, cello, Brahms and Mahler, 7.30.
SEATON, Gateway, Seaton Music, London Handel Players.
SIDMOUTH, Manor Pavilion, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Buddy with Spencer J and the Copy-Cat Crickets.
SOUTHAMPTON, Turner Sims, Paul Lewis, piano, Schubert sonatas, 8pm.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, Stanchester Quire Christmas Concert.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Jenny Bliss Bennett, baroque violin, Sonatas by Biber, 7.45.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Cathedral School students in Treasure Island, to Sat, 7pm.
WEYMOUTH, College, Bay Theatre, Bay Theatre Company Students in Showcase Spectacular 2023, 1 and 7.30.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Platinum, ABBA tribute.
Friday 8 December
BATH, Chapel Arts, The Super Skas.
Rondo, Rock the Tots Christmas, 11am: The Greatest Magician: A Christmas Spectacular, and Sat, 3 and 8pm.
Mission Theatre, Hobgoblin Theatre in A Christmas Carol, and Sat, 7.30, Fri mat 5pm, Sat mat 2.30pm.
BLANDFORD, Parish Church, Narthen Trio, Icicles and Inglenooks, festive music, polyphony, unaccompanied carols, 7.30. AR
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, Leona Lewis in Christmas with Love.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Leon McCawley, piano, Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Chopin, Schubert, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, La Vie en Rose, jazz, 8pm.
Electric Palace, The Miracle Club, film, 7.30.
BRISTOL, Beacon Hall, The Snowman and Wallace and Grommit: The Wrong Trousers, with orchestral accompaniement, 3 and 6.30pm: Lantern Hall, New Regency Orchestra and dancers, jazz and Latin, 8pm.
02 Academy, Alambama 3, Cold War Classics.
Alma Tavern, Robin Morgan: Snip Snip, Bitch, 8pm.
BURNHAM ON SEA, Princess Theatre, Take a Chance on Us, ABBA tribute.
CHARD, Guildhall, And Then Come the Nightjars. MOVIOLA
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Jive Talkin’, BeeGees tribute.
CLEVEDON, The Theatre Shop, Living Spit in A Christmas Carol, to 30 Dec.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Sons of Town Hall, Americana, 7.30.
CREDITON, Arts Centre, Owdyado Theatre in Twisted Christmas, macabre mini-plays, 7.30. ViA
CREWKERNE, Victoria Hall, Film Crew, A Bunch of Amateurs.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Snow Angel, cabaret with Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes, 7.30.
EXETER, Corn Exchange, Exeter Comedy Club, and 15 Dec.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Everything Changes – Take That at Christmas, tribute.
FROME, The Lucky Chance, Wise Children in The Little Matchgirl and Happier Tales, 12 performances to 23 December. SOLD OUT
Cheese and Grain, Complete Madness, tribute.
Tree House, TV Smith, singer songwriter.
HANGING LANGFORD, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
KINGSTON ST MARY, Village Hall, What’s Love Got to Do With It, 7.30. MOVIOLA
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy and Jamie Safir, jazz improvisations, 8pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Lost in Music, tribute to Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Gloria Gaynor, etc, 7.30: Studio Jazz with Nigel Price Organ Trio, 7.45.
SEATON, Gateway, Happy Days in A Magical Christmas.
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, Women Talking, film, 8pm.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAST, Counting Down to Christmas, new festive musical for children, to 24 Dec, day times.
Turner Sims, University of Southampton Voices, dir Harvey Brough, Revolver and Sgt Pepper, 7.30.
STREET, Strode Theatre, South West School of Dance, Momentum, showcase, to Sun, 7pm, Sat/Sun mats 2pm.
TAUNTON, Brewhouse, Andy Parsons, Bafflingly Optimistic, comedy, 8pm.
Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Robin Hood, pantomime, to 21 Dec, various times.
THEALE, Village Hall, Mr Punch’s Folk Club, folk song, storytelling and verse. New performers always welcome, 7.30.
WATCHET, Cinema, Barbie. MOVIOLA
WESTON SUPER MARE, Playhouse, Dick Whittington, with Derek Moran (of Milkshake), Linda Lusardi as Queen Rat, Michael Goble as Sarah the Cook, to 31 Dec, various times.
Electric Banana, Beans on Toast.
WEST STAFFORD, Village Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6.30pm. AR
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Showaddywaddy.
YEOVIL, Westlands, Cinderella, with Jack Glanville, Gordon Cooper and Matt Daines, to 31 Dec. (various times)
Saturday 9 December
BATH, Forum, Cirque – The Greatest Show, musical theatre and circus, 1pm, and 5pm.
BEAULIEU, Abbey, New Forest Children’s Choir and New Forest Chamber Choir, Festive Favourites, 7pm.
BIDEFORD, Palladium, Beans on Toast.
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, The Australian Pink Floyd Show – The Dark Side of the Moon, 50th anniversary.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Martin Carthy and Jon Wilks, song and conversation, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, Laugh Out Proud, with Mark Cram, Kate Martin, Dane Buckley, gay comedy, 8pm.
Electric Palace, Boogie Nights Christmas Party, 7pm.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Annie Mac Before Midnight.
Folk House, Steve Tilston.
Alma Tavern, Instant Wit: The Best in Improvised Comedy, 8pm.
BURTON BRADSTOCK, Village Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6.30pm. AR
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984), 8pm.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, James Rowland in Learning to Fly, 7.30.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, Lyngo Theatre in Snow Play, 11.30am.
EXETER, Corn Exchange, Superstition, The Big Christmas Party.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Absolute Britney, tribute.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, L1nkn P4rk and Fu Fakers.
HONITON, Beehive, Honiton Does Strictly, in aid of Hospiscare, 7.30.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms, film, 4pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Coastal Comedy Christmas, 8pm: Cinema, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 10.30am.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Handel’s Messiah, Salisbury Cathedral Choir and City of London Sinfonia, 7pm.
Arts Centre, From Gold to Rio, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet tribute.
SOMERTON, Parish Rooms, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, 7.30. MOVIOLA
SOUTHAMPTON, Mayflower Theatre, Christopher Biggins, Ashley Banjo and Diversity, Kev Orkian, Rachel Stanley and Kirsy Ingram in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 31 Dec, various times.
Turner Sims, Down for the Count Orchestra, Swing into Christmas, 3 and 7.30pm.
SWANAGE, Mowlem Theatre, Charlie Bicknell and Louise Innes, Snow Angel, Christmas cabaret, 7.30.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, The Guns and Roses Experience.
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Nine Below Zero.
WOOTTON FITZPAINE, Village Hall, Narthen Trio, Icicles and Inglenooks, festive music, polyphony, unaccompanied carols. Vocal harmony workshop 5pm, concert 7.30. AR
YEOVIL, St Michael’s Church, Yeovilton Military Wives Choir in concert, 7pm.
Sunday 10 December
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, CBeebies Panto, Robin Hood, on screen, 2pm.
BRISTOL, Folk House, The Magpies, folk, bluegrass and Americana, 8pm.
Thekla, Blonde Redhead.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Fairytale of New York, Irish-inspired Christmas show, 7.30.
STUDLAND, Village Hall, Narthen Trio, Icicles and Inglenooks, festive music, polyphony, unaccompanied carols. Vocal harmony workshop, 2pm, concert 4pm. AR
WINCANTON, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Wincanton Choral Society, Hallelujah!!! Christmas Concert, Handel, Vaughan Williams, etc, 7.30.
Monday 11 December
BRISTOL, Beacon, Ricky Gervais, and Tues.
CHILTHORNE DOMER, Village Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
PORTSMOUTH, Guildhall, Suede.
SHREWTON, Village Hall, What’s Love Got to Do With It, 7.30. MOVIOLA
STREET, Strode Theatre, Florencia en el Amazonas, opera by Mexican composer Daniel Catan, from the Metropolitan Opera, 5.55pm: 20 Days in Mariupol, documentary film, 7pm.
Tuesday 12 December
BATH, Forum, Mary Berry, My Six Decades in Cookery, 7.30.
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, Madness, the C’Est La Vie show, with Lightning Seeds.
Little Theatre, Jameson Road, Arnold Ridley’s The Ghost Train, to Sat.
BRISTOL, St George’s, A Winter Union with Jade Rhiannon, Katriona Gilmore, Jamie Roberts, Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage, seasonal concert, 8pm.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, The Eight Mountains, film, 7.30.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, Steeleye Span.
MINEHEAD, Regal, The Sitting Duck, film, 2.30.
POOLE, Lighthouse, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet, and Sat, 7.15pm.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Strode College Christmas Concert, 7.30.
TAUNTON, Brewhouse, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet, 7.15pm.
TROWBRIDGE, Civic Centre, The Scummy Mummies, Greatest Hits, 7.30.
TRURO, Old Bakery, Beans on Toast.
Wednesday 13 December
BATH, Forum, Dave Gorman – Powerpoint to the People, 7.30.
Rondo, Greedy Pig Theatre in The Stolen Winter Light, to 24 Dec, various times.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, The Nutcracker, filmed at Royal Ballet, 7.15, and Sat 3pm.
St Margaret’s Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
BRANSGORE, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
BRISTOL, Beacon Hall, Sophie Ellis Bextor: Lantern Hall, Richard Dawson, folk and indie, 8pm.
CHARLTON MARSHALL, Village Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Matthew Taylor, violin, Peter French, piano, Flight of the Firebird, music from Rimsky Korsakov to Stravinsky, 1pm.
EAST KNOYLE, Village Hall, What’s Love Got to Do With It, 7.30. MOVIOLA
EXETER, Northcott, Barb Jungr, with Dillie Keane, 7.30.
Barnfield Theatre, Dear Santa, children’s show, to 24 Dec, various day times.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Band of the Royal Marines at Christmas, 2.30 and 7.30pm.
KILMINGTON, Devon, Village Hall, And Then Come the Nightjars. MOVIOLA
NETHER WALLOP, Village Hall, The Old Oak. MOVIOLA
POOLE, Lighthouse, Handel’s Messiah, BSO, Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, cond Rob Howarth, 7.30.
STREET, Strode Theatre, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet, 7.15, Sun 6pm and Sat 23rd December, 3pm.
TOTNES, Barrel House Ballroom, Beans on Toast.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Cathedral School Early Music Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven 5th Symphony, 7.30.
YEOVIL, Swan Theatre, Cinematheque, EO, and Christmas social, 7.30.
Thursday 14 December
BATH, Forum, Fastlove, George Michael tribute.
Mission Theatre, Cardiff Opera in Puccini’s La Boheme, to Sun, 7.30.
BEAULIEU, Abbey Ruins, London Touring Players in A Christmas Carol, to 24 December, 2.30, 4pm and 5.30pm.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Beans on Toast.
BRISTOL, Bristol Beacon, The Darkness.
02 Academy, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, 100% Colombian.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 film, 11am and 7.30pm.
DONHEAD ST MARY, Village Hall, What’s Love Got to Do With It, 7.30. MOVIOLA
DORCHESTER, Shire Hall Museum, New Hardy Players in Christmas in the Courtroom, and Fri, 7.30.
FAWLEY, Jubilee Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6pm.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, ABBA Reunion, tribute.
Tree House, Ben Poole, rock and blues.
HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE, Village Hall, The Old Oak. MOVIOLA
HONITON, Beehive, St Agnes Fountain, 7pm.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Swing Into Christmas with the New Forest Big Band, 7.30.
SALISBURY, Medieval Hall, Celebrate Voice at Christmas, and Fri, opera, theatre, cabaret and carols, 7.30.
SOUTHAMPTON, Turner Sims, GreenMatthews, A Christmas Carol, Victorian carols and mid-winter folk songs, and musical retelling of Dickens’ classic, 7.30.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Strode Theatre Productions in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, to Sat, 7.15.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, film, 7pm.
Friday 15 December
BATH, Forum, Comedy Night with Ed Gamble, Jen Brister, Fern Brady and Kyrah Gray.
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, ELF – the Musical, live show with film backdrops, and Sat 7pm, Sat mat 3pm.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, Alex Mendham and his Orchestra, Swing Into the Festive Season, 7.30.
BRIDGWATER, Arts Centre, Mad Dog McRea.
McMillan Theatre, Beauty and the Beast, pantomime, to 29 Dec, various times.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Killers of the Flower Moon, film, 7.30.
BRISTOL, Beacon, John Robins, comedy.
Redgrave Theatre, Polka Dot in Rapunzel, to 31 Dec, various times.
Hen and Chicken, The Big Christmas Assembly with James B Partridge, music.
Wardrobe Theatre, Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals in Noisy Nativity, day times to 29 Dec.
CHAFFCOMBE, Village Hall, Midwinter Folk Tales with storyteller Taffy Thoms and musician Mossy Christian, 5.30pm. TA
CHEDDON and WEST MONKTON, Village Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Green Matthews, A Christmas Carol in Concert, 7.30.
DITCHEAT, Jubilee Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
EXETER, Barnfield Theatre, Rabbit Rabbit, tribute to Chas’n’Dave, 7.45.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Disco Inferno.
FROME, Tree House, Glen Matlock, of the Sex Pistols, and Sat.
HONITON, Beehive, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet, 4.30pm.
LITTON CHENEY, Community Hall, VRi, Welsh strings and vocal trio, 7.30. AR
NORTON ST PHILIP, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
PLYMOUTH, Theatre Royal, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, to 13 Jan various times and dates.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Moscow Drug Club, 8pm.
SALISBURY, Arts Centre, Festive Barnstormers Comedy, 8pm.
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, Rye Lane, film, 8pm.
SIXPENNY HANDLEY, Village Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
STREET,Strode Theatre, Music on My MIND, local and professional showcase in aid of charity, 7.30.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, BSO Christmas Crackers, carols, Christmas music, wintry tunes and seasonal songs 7.30. AR
SWANAGE, Mowlem, Napoleon, film, with Joaquin Phoenix, 2pm, and Sat to Thurs, 7pm.
TINCLETON, The Old School House, Duncan Honeybourne, piano, Christmas themed classical music, and Sat, 8pm.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Jonathan Jones, Earthly Delights – An Exploration of the Renaissance, 7pm.
WEST CAMEL, Davis Hall, Oppenheimer. MOVIOLA
WIMBORNE, Tivoli, Cinderella, to 1 Jan.
YEOVIL, Westlands, Back to the 80s Big Christmas Party, 7pm.
Saturday 16 December
ALDERHOLT, Village Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 2.30.
BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion Dance, Claire Benson and Olivia Quayle in Advent Adventure,Christmas-themed dance experience, to Mon, 11am and 2pm.
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet, 2pm.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Bristol Choral Society, cond Hilary Campbell, Bristol Ensemble, Handel’s Messiah, 7.30
St George’s, Bristol Ensemble, City of Bristol Choir, cond David Ogden, Christmas Spectacular, 7.30.
CHRISTCHURCH, Regent Centre, In The St Nick of Time, Christmas spectacular, to 24 Dec, various times.
CORFE CASTLE, Village Hall, VRi, Welsh strings and vocal trio, 7.30. AR
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, The Nightmare Before Christmas, animated film, 11am.
DORCHESTER, Corn Exchange, This Christmas, new romantic comedy by Vince Jones and James Cuthill, and Sun, 7.30, Sat mat 2.3o.
EASTON, Village Hall, Midwinter Folk Tales with storyteller Taffy Thoms and musician Mossy Christian, 7.30pm. TA
EXETER, Corn Exchange, Sleeping Beauty, to 1 Jan, various times.
Barnfield Theatre, London Festival Opera, A Christmas Night at the Opera, 7.45.
Cygnet Theatre, Singing Concert, 6pm.
FERNDOWN, Barrington Arts Centre, Jack and the Beanstalk, to 1 Jan, various times.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, Rhythm of the 90s and Dave Pearce.
LYME REGIS, Marine Theatre, Ed Byrne, Tragedy plus Time, Comedy, 7.30.
MINEHEAD, Regal, Scrooge – The Musical, 1070 film, 11am.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Garlic Theatre in The Nosy Little Troll, 11am.
POOLE, Lighthouse, BSO, cond Tom Fetherstonehaugh, Last Night of the Christmas Proms, 7.30.
SALISBURY, Arts Centre, Limehouse Lizzie, 8pm.
Brown Street, The Zucchinis, FREE
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, Green Matthews, A Christmas Carol in Concert, 7.30.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, Merry Hell, a Chance to Dance event.
STREET,Strode Theatre, Dream Scenario, film, 7.30.
TAUNTON, Brewhouse, Little Angel Theatre in Five Little Christmas Monkeys, and Sun/Wed, 10am, 11.30am and 1.30pm.
WEYMOUTH, Pavilion, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 31 Dec, various times.
Sunday 17 December
BOURNEMOUTH, BIC, That’ll Be the Day Christmas Show.
Pavilion, Viggo Venn, comedy.
BRADFORD ON AVON, Wiltshire Music Centre, GBH Big Band, dir Mike Daniels, Claire Martin, vocals, jazz, 7.30.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, The Last Baguette in A Winter’s Tail, 11am and 2pm.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Kate Rusby, 7pm.
Hen and Chicken, Festive:BS3 Santa, with Stewart Wright as Father Christmas and Ben Kirby as Sven the Reindeer-Handler, to 23 Dec, 10am and 2pm.
CARDIFF, Utilita Arena, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, Cara Dillon, Upon a Winter’s Night.
LAMYATT, Village Hall, Midwinter Folk Tales with storyteller Taffy Thoms and musician Mossy Christian, 4pm. TA
MINEHEAD, Regal, The Nutcracker, encore screening from the Royal Ballet, 2pm.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Christmas Evensong with Bach’s Wachet Auf cantata, 4.30.
SEATON, Gateway, The Nutcracker, from the Royal Ballet.
SOUTHAMPTON, Turner Sims, The Melrose Quartet, A Bright New Year, festive songs and good cheer, 7.30.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, St Agnes Fountain – Chris Leslie, Chris While, Julie Matthews, annual Christmas visit.
STOCKLAND, Victory Hall, Owdyado Theatre in Twisted Christmas, macabre mini-plays, 7.30. ViA
STREET, Strode Theatre, 20,000 Species of Bees, Spanish film, 6.30.
Monday 18 December
BRIDPORT, Electric Palace, Bridport Young Performers in The Addams Family, to Thurs, 7.30.
BRISTOL, Beacon, Bootleg Beatles.
St George’s, Bristol Ensemble, Exultate Singers, cond David Ogden, Christmas Spectacular, 7.30.
CARDIFF, Tramshed, Slade, 50 years on.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Rock the Tots Christmas, 11am and 2pm.
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Oliver!, 1968 film, 2.30pm.
RINGWOOD, Moors Valley Country Park, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6.30.
SEATON, Gateway,Wonder Pantomimes in Jack and the Beanstalk, to Wed, Mon/Wed 2pm, Tues 6pm.
WELLS, Cedars Hall, Undivided, boy band, 7.30.
YEOVIL, Westlands, Castaway Theatre Christmas Spectacular, 7.30.
Tuesday 19 December
BATH, Forum, Aljaz and Janette, dance.
BRIDPORT, Arts Centre, Squashbox Theatre in The Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasness, 11.30am.
BRISTOL, Beacon, BSO, cond Karabits, Sunwook Kim, piano, Turnage, Shostakovich, Beethoven and Stravinsky, 7.30.
St George’s, Festive Fiesta with The Bristol Ensemble, City of Bristol Choir, cond David Ogden, 7.30.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Filskit Theatre, Wondegigs, Winter, music for small children, 10 and 11.30am.
HYTHE, Parish Hall, Barbie. MOVIOLA
NEW MILTON, Forest Arts, Singin’ In the Rain, 1952 film, 2.30.
POOLE, Lighthouse, David Mynne in A Christmas Carol, solo show, and Wed, 7.30.
RINGWOOD, Forest Forge Theatre, Endeavour Park, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6.30, and Wed 11.30am and 3pm.
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, film, 2pm.
SOUTHAMPTON, MAST, A Christmas Carol, new festive musical, to 31 Dec, various times.
Engine Rooms, Slade, with Sons of the Seventies.
SWANAGE, Mowlem Theatre, Santa’s Christmas Wish, 2pm.
WELLS, Cathedral, Carols by Candlelight, to Thurs, 7pm.
Wednesday 20 December
BRISTOL, St George’s, Bristol Ensemble and Choir of Royal Holloway, Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight, 7pm.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Gav Cross in After Supper Ghost Stories by Jerome K Jerome, 7.30.
EXETER, University Great Hall, BSO, cond Tom Fetherstonehaugh, Last Night of the Christmas Proms, 7.30.
SHAFTESBURY, Arts Centre, Honalee Media in Santa’s Christmas Wish, 11am and 2pm.
SOUTHAMPTON, Engine Rooms, Slade, 50 years on.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, Neil Sands Co in Christmas Memories, 2pm.
WARMINSTER, Civic Centre, Barbie. MOVIOLA
Thursday 21 December
BRISTOL, Beacon, Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, with The Mozart Symphony Orchestra, 2.30pm.
St George’s, Kenny Thomas.
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, The Last Baguette Christmas Special, A Winter’s Tail, and Fri, 10 and 11.30am: Father Christmas Storytelling, 11am and 2 and 4pm.
FROME, Tree House, Sladest, Slade tribute.
HONITON, Beehive, Santa Claus: The Movie, 1985 film, 2pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, The Rocket Man, tribute to Elton John, 7.30: Cinema, Meet Me in St Louis, 1944 Christmas musical with Judy Garland, dementia friendy screening, 2pm.
PORTSMOUTH, Guildhall, BSO, cond Tom Fetherstonehaugh, Last Night of the Christmas Proms, 7.30.
SHAFTESBURY, Grosvenor Hotel, Gwyneth Wentink, harp, 8pm.
Friday 22 December
BOURNEMOUTH, 02 Academy, The Smyths.
BROADCHALKE, Village Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 6.30.
EXETER, Cathedral, Viennese Christmas Spectacular with London Concertante, 7.30.
EXMOUTH, Pavilion, Beauty and the Beast, pantomime with Stuart Earp and Jordan Bateman, to 1 Jan.
FROME, Tree House, The P’hogues, Poges tribute, and Sat.
HONITON, Beehive, A Magical Christmas with the Happy Days Singers and Dancers, 4pm.
POOLE, Lighthouse, Sweet, 7.30.
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Carols by Candlelight with Cathedral Choir, and Sat, 7pm.
STREET, Strode Theatre, Strode Theatre Productions in Alex in Wonderland, A Pantomime Adventure: Reloaded!, to 31 Dec, various times.
THEALE, Village Hall, Mr Punch’s Folk Club, folk song, storytelling and verse. New performers always welcome, 7.30.
Saturday 23 December
CORSHAM, Pound Arts, Filskit Theatre in Breaking the Ice – an interactive Christmas story, and Sun, 11am and 2pm.
FROME, Cheese and Grain, The Sweet.
POOLE, Lighthouse, BSO and Bournemouth Symphony and Youth Choruses, cond Gavin Carr, Christmas carols and singalong, 7.30.
PORTSMOUTH, New Theatre, Kenny Thomas.
STURMINSTER NEWTON, The Exchange, One Night of Ska.
WEST TYTHERLEY, King Edward’s Hall, Bumblefly and Forest Forge in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, 1.30.
Sunday 24 December
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Choral Evensong, 5.30pm: First Eucharist of Christmas, 11pm.
Monday 25 December CHRISTMAS DAY
SALISBURY, Cathedral, Christmas Day Eucharist, 10.30am: Festal Evensong, 3pm.
Wednesday 27 December
SIDMOUTH, Manor Pavilion, Sidmouth Amateur Dramatic Society in Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates, to 1 Jan, various times.
Thursday 28 December
FROME, Memorial Theatre, Frome Musical Theatre Company in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to 3 Jan, various times.
Saturday 30 December
EXETER, Barnfield Theatre, Wonder Pantomimes in Jack and the Beanstalk, 2 and 6pm, and Sun 11am and 3pm.
MINEHEAD, Regal, Minehead Panto People in The Snow Queen, to 6 Jan, Sat-Mon and 6 Jan 2.30, 30 Dec and 4 to 6 Jan 7.30.
Sunday 31 December
BOURNEMOUTH, Pavilion Dance, New Year Ceilidh with Bow and Box and caller Tom Gregory, 9.30pm onward.
SEATON, Gateway, New Year at the Gateway with The Zoots.
SOUTH PETHERTON, David Hall, New Year’s Eve Ceilidh with Crooked Furrow, fun, dance and a light supper, 8.15pm.